Thelkeld Knotts, Clough Head & Calfhow Pike from the Vale of St John. Return via the the Old Coach Road

8.5miles 2500ft

High Rigg in the Vale of St John as I set off for Threlkeld Knotts

I passed above Spion Kop quarry.....

....with views also across the vale

My original plan was to climb Clough Head via the Fisher Wife Rake path, however when I saw the steepness of the route seen here in the centre top I change my plans and headed for Threlkeld Knotts instead!!

Arriving at Threlkeld Knotts summit cairn just as the sun came over Clough Head

Looking north as I continued over the Knotts

Looking down on Wanthwaite where I had parked the car

Looking down into the Vale of St John from the ridge to Clough Head

Arriving at Clough Head summit cairn & shelter 2328ft

Blencathra from the summit

Looking down to Thirlmere as I continued to Calf How Pike

Looking back to Clough Head from Calf How Pike....

....and looking west to the Newland & Coledale fells on the horizon....

....and down to Thirlmere again

The southern horizon....

....before stopping for lunch as I descended to....

....the Old Coach Road where the hounds which I seen several times on the descent were following the quadbike back  to their kennels

The Old Coach Road afforded good views to Blencathra....

....and the Skiddaw fells ahead

Zooming in on Skiddaw again before....

....the last few hundred yards of the road back to the car

Another great day's walking in the wonderful Lakeland fells. It had not been quite the route of my original plan but non the worse for that.

Upper Wharfedale 

A circuit from Kilnsey including 

Malham Moor summit, Grassington, 

the river Wharfe & Conistone

11.5miles 1700ft

Setting off from the bridge over the river Wharfe between  Conistone & Kilnsey

The distictive Kilnsey Crag dominates the scene in this part of the Dale....

.....and again

Mastiles lane, an old drovers road to Malham leads past the Kilnsey trout farm....

....and climbs above Kilnsey village.... 

....and up onto the moor

Looking back across the dale to Conistone village

....before arriving at the top of Malham moor 1388ft unfortunately low cloud left no view from here today!

Leaving the summit behind I began the descent back into the dale....

.... passing this attractive hamlet on the way to....

....the river Wharfe again at Grassington

I had lunch sat by the river with a view to Cracoe fell...

....before entering the village of Grassington

The village is very popular with visitors

Leaving the village behind I joined 'The Dales Way' long distance path which links Silsden to Bowness on Windermere

I continued on the Dales Way until....

Kilnsey crag came into view again and descended to....

Conistone village....

.....and back to my car on the bridge

After a grey start to the day the weather improved and this was a lovely walk. It's not often I drive east to the Dales but I'm always rewarded with a great day's walking when I do!!

 A circuit from Sandside on the Kent estuary taking in Arnside Knott, Silverdale, Gaits Barrow Nature Reserve & the Fairy Steps. 13.5miles 1650ft

Parking on the seafront at low tide on the Kent estuary

A disused railway line makes an excellent path round to Arnside here in the early sunshine

Looking back up the estuary 

The path leads to a crossing at Arnside station.... 

....with an execllent view of the Arnside viaduct

Grange over Sands can be seen from Arnside seafront

Starting the climb up Arnside Knott with snow on the eastern Lakeland fells

Arnside Knott summit only 522ft but with some lovely views....

.....Grange over Sands again

....Far Arnside

Far Arnside caravan park

After descending the Knott I continued here to Silverdale seafront....

....before walking into the village

St John's church

The crocuses were bursting into bloom

After leaving the village the traffic light was green for me to cross!! (I've never seen one of these before)

My path continued to Gaits Barrow nature reserve....

....with an unusal viewing hide....

.....here it is

I sat down nearby and shared my lunch with this robin....

....whilst looking into the reserve

Resuming the walk the field paths had plenty of newborn lambs on the way to....

.....the Fairy Steps on Beetham fell

....it's rather a tight squeeze to the top

Leaving Beetham fell, I descended to Storth and Sandside village centre....

....and finally back to my car on the seafront.

A really lovely walk on a lovely day with lots of interest.